Pebble smartwatch discussion and owners thread

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Pebble smartwatch discussion and owners thread

BuffyNZ

240 posts

Master Geek

#114610 25-Feb-2013 15:35

My pebble just arrived.. Love it so far.

My paired device is a Galaxy S3.

I am using the Just A Bit face.

I have installed Pebble Notifier to get more notifications.

Tempted to get into the SDK and make a some timer app and a stopwatch app.

Too early so far to comment on the battery life.

Anyone else have one?

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298 posts

Ultimate Geek

Technical Solutions Aust

#770341 26-Feb-2013 10:46

Mine is arriving shortly - at the processing shipment stage so hopefully next week?

Will report back then

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BuffyNZ

240 posts

Master Geek

#770342 26-Feb-2013 10:49

Based on some of the other feedback I have been reading I have decided to put mine back in the box until the screen protector I ordered arrives.

I ordered this: http://www.skinomi.com/sk12425-pebble-smartwatch-carbon-fiber-skin-protector.html

Ramjet007

319 posts

Ultimate Geek

#770836 27-Feb-2013 06:29

I've put an order in for one. Anyone know how long before i will get to pay and get it shipped?

BuffyNZ

240 posts

Master Geek

#770843 27-Feb-2013 07:04

Ramjet007: I've put an order in for one. Anyone know how long before i will get to pay and get it shipped?

For a Pebble or a screen protector?

For pebble it is hard to say, I believe they are still filling the Kickstarter backer orders.

I backed on the 14 of April 2012I received shipping notification on the 21st of Feb 2013.

The shipping docket show it actually shipped on the 18th..

It arrived on 23 Feb 2013.

TechSol

298 posts

Ultimate Geek

Technical Solutions Aust

#770976 27-Feb-2013 11:34

I backed on the 19th of April, and mine is showing as processing shipment.... should see it in a week or two I imagine.

and they are still fulfilling kickstarter orders, then there are the general pro-orders, then they should start shipping normal orders.

My guess would be Juneish?

Ramjet007

319 posts

Ultimate Geek

#772031 1-Mar-2013 06:35

How are you able to see the status of your order? When i entered my details it didnt create an account. Just sent me an email says they would let me know when to pay.

TechSol

298 posts

Ultimate Geek

Technical Solutions Aust

#772111 1-Mar-2013 09:56

Ramjet007: How are you able to see the status of your order? When i entered my details it didnt create an account. Just sent me an email says they would let me know when to pay.

Because they are only dealing with the kickstarter orders at this point.
The pre-orders will be next.

Considering they have only shipped 15000 of the 75000odd kickstarter pre-orders to date, you are a wee way off.

TechSol

298 posts

Ultimate Geek

Technical Solutions Aust

#783258 18-Mar-2013 09:20

okay... received mine on Friday so that took two weeks.

First impressions - really like the watch... but the software needs a lot of work... real problems interfacing with iOS at this point.

(Problemmatic email notifications, connection prompts after phonecalls, Bluetooth connecting as an audio device, bluetooth interfering with other bluetooth audio devices)

Hopefully now that they are in the latter stages of production, they can concentrate on the software and releasing meaningful SDKs.

KennyM

221 posts

Master Geek

#783553 18-Mar-2013 18:11

Will be following this tread. I have been checking the website every couple of weeks to see when it will come off 'pre order'. At least now I know they have started shipping them.

I am pretty set on ordering one for my birthday (next month) so heres hoping your feedback is all positive (im andriod so ill ignore that iOS bit :)

hairy1

3330 posts

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#836061 12-Jun-2013 21:04

Hey folks,

Do any of you care to give us an update on how the Pebble is going? I am looking at one (if they ever ship). I started a thread over here: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=11&topicid=120767 but then found this thread.

Cheers, Matt.

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wallross

42 posts

Geek

Trusted

#941823 27-Nov-2013 16:25

I am less than one week into owning a Pebble SmartWatch (linked to Apple iPhone5 running iOS7), and have some observations I can share.

Some points to note:

I bought my Pebble after seeing one a mate had, and so I knew exactly what it did, and did not do before I bought it.
I needed a new watch, and I like gadgets, so it seemed like a good match and a geeky thing to try
Cost was $186NZD. Ordered on a Sunday and it was delivered to me in Wellington (out of Singapore) 4 days later.

Advantages:

I find I no longer miss calls when walking and my phone is in my pocket. I usually have my phone on silent at work/when out, and often forget to turn ringer back on when I head out of the office. With the Pebble, it “vibrates” and displays the callers name, so I have not missed a call since.
You can even answer the call from the watch, which is brilliant when driving, and playing music off phone to car stereo via FM transmitter. Without having to reach for the phone, I could see who was calling, and handsfree answer the call. Bit of a gray area as to whether looking at my watch to see who was calling would be breaking the law!! (“honestly officer, I was just checking the time”)
By the sounds, the software was not that great until a firmware update released earlier in November. But the new iOS firmware update allows ANY notifications that you set as “banners” to push to the watch. Very easy to set up too.
In meetings, I can leave my phone in my pocket, and still get mail, text message, calendar, and call alerts (which I can choose to “decline” from the watch too and send to voicemail). It is more subtle to glance at your watch, that haul out your phone and unlock it to check messages etc. Then again, I have read on forums that in a one-on-one meeting, always checking your watch can lead to the person you are with thinking you are being rude and need to be somewhere else, and not with them!
I do a lot of biking, and I can now have phone safely in my bag/pocket, but still see text alerts etc.
It also has built in integration with the RunKeeper App so you can see data from the app on your phone (distance, pace etc) on your watch.
It allows you to control your music player from your phone, and NOT just iTunes. I use it with Spotify all the time, and its great. It works with other music services too such as Pandora too apparently
Its fully waterproof – I can have the phone connected to a portable speaker in the bathroom and change tunes whilst showering (OK – I admit, I only did it cos I could)
Screen is very clear to read – yes it is not gazillion-pixel resolution, but it does what it needs to. No worse than an LCD display watch. I have found the pushed alerts of messages etc you can read fine (you use the buttons to scroll to see the full message on the watch)
You can get loads of cool watch “faces” for it – most for free. In saying that, I only have about 3 I cycle through.
People online report better battery life on their phones – as they are not unlocking their phones (and powering up the screen) to check messages etc all the time. You have to admit you do see lots of people using their phone as a watch, and checking the time on their phone in meetings etc. The additional drain of Bluetooth (uses Low power Bluetooth connection with the iPhone 5) is offset by less use of phone is what seems to be at play here.
They do seem to be actively investing in firmware development, as well as SDK enhancements.
The Pebble is large (see disadvantages), but much better looking than the Sony or Samsung offerings IMHO

Disadvantages

Bluetooth connection thus far has been hit and miss for some strange reason. When it works, it is solid, but I keep dropping the connection for no clear reason, and have to pair the device again, which in itself is not as seamless as it could be. Time for a deep dive of the help forums I think.
The screen looks to be quite venerable to scratches. You can get “Protectors” for them, and I think I may order one.
The phone is quite large – would not be a great gift for a petite female with a small wrist!
You do have to charge it every week (at least!). Normal run time is 5-7 days (according to the box), but “new-toy-use” meant I only got about 3 days on first charge. (Then again I have to charge my phone EVERY day!)
The charging cable is proprietary (yep – ANOTHER cable) It does not plug in, but instead magnetically attaches to the side, and 2 small metal contacts on the plug touch contacts on the watch. Having the watch supplied with 2 cables would be nice. I think I will have to go order another because…..
…. the battery indicator is “hidden” in the settings menu, and does not show on the watch face itself. Thus, you often miss the fact it needs charging, and it just “dies” on you. Not good if you charge cable is at home, and this happens early in the day I would say! (This “feature” is something I have seen on the top of a “please fix” list from users online)
You cannot reply to messages from the watch itself – YET. There is talk of a new firmware release containing possible functionality to allow you to select pre-loaded responses by using the buttons on the watch.
No Voice recognition is a downfall. An Apple product with Siri integration would be VERY interesting to try

Summary of the Pebble:

I have found myself “smiling” at the functionality on MANY occasions, so to me it has passed the test of a good gadget
Is it ready for mainstream consumerism yet – NOPE. I certainly would not buy one for my 70+ year old father to link to his phone until the connectivity is sorted. But, if Apple did release one, I am sure they would overcome the connectivity issues I mentioned above.
Would I have paid $350-450 for the same functionality via Sony/Samsung – I doubt it. Are there other “watch accessories” on the market that cost more than the Pebble (Nike Fitbit, and TomTom GPS running watches) that this could replicate their functionality - yep (you can get apps that count steps ala Fitbit that you can install on the watch).
Will I be using it still in a year? TIME will tell.

Ramjet007

319 posts

Ultimate Geek

#941949 28-Nov-2013 05:43

I've had mine for a couple of months now. It has only lost connection with my S4 once, when the watch went flat..
I charge it once a week.

Had no problems with the face scratching.

I no longer miss calls (before when the phone is in my pocket, i couldn't always hear it ring).

Be nice to see the watch charge %, although this may be available since the 1.3 update (i haven't checked yet)

I'm very happy with it. You can get a charge cable from pebble for $10 or off Ebay.

jarledb

Webhead
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#943301 30-Nov-2013 08:54

My main grief at the moment is that its impossible to have a "night mode" with no notifications being pushed to the watch. So I have had to resort to turning off bluetooth at night or I would be hearing the watch buzz all the time (would be even worse if it was on my hand at night!)

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